Chapped lips, scaly skin and dreaded nuisance static cling are just a few of the annoyances of winter. Many people would add uncomfortably dry eyes to the list, says Michael Lachtrup, O.D., Washington University optometrist at the BJC Eye Center.
"It''s just one of those things that happen in winter because the humidity is so low," says Dr. Lachtrup. "I very rarely see patients with severely dry eyes in August."
Cold, dry air outside and artificially heated air indoors can make eyes uncomfortably dry, especially if you''re using a computer or reading. But there are easy solutions that work for most people, Dr. Lachtrup says.
He recommends using humidifiers at home and at work, if possible, to add moisture back to the air.
Good over-the-counter lubricant eye drops are usually effective at relieving dryness, Dr. Lachtrup says. Systane, Refresh and TheraTears are some readily available brands. However, he warns against using drops formulated to reduce eye redness. Those drops blanch blood vessels in the eye, but don''t relieve dry eyes. "They''ll make the whites of your eyes whiter, but they''re not therapeutic," he says.
People with persistent dry eyes may want to try dietary supplements such as flaxseed oil or omega-3 capsules.
"In recent studies, there seems to be some evidence that supplements can help," Dr. Lachtrup says.
Contact lens wearers may find winter dry eyes especially bothersome. Dr. Lachtrup recommends they use a wetting solution approved for their type of lenses to keep their eyes moist.
He also recommends they consult their eye doctor about newer contact lens materials and newer wetting solutions that may be more comfortable.
This may also be a good time for contact wearers to think about cutting back on the amount of time they wear their lenses.
"So they may have to wear their glasses more often," Dr. Lachtrup says, "but the dry eye season only lasts for about a month or so."
If these suggestions don''t bring dry eye sufferers some relief, Dr. Lachtrup recommends consulting your doctor.